As a boy, my father’s stories of his years spent on the ice in Antarctica sparked a lifelong interest in tales of the great Southern explorers. The expeditions of Amundsen, Nansen, Scott, Shackleton and Mawson have always enthralled me, inspiring admiration for their determination, courage and loyalty. All very “Boys Own Adventure” I admit, but still full of relevance for all young people today.
Imagine my delight then, when I arrived at Bromsgrove and discovered that, amongst the School’s impressive collection of memorabilia, we were in possession of one of the original sledges used by Captain Scott on his Antarctic expeditions, and accompanied on the Discovery expedition by an OB no less, Reginald Skelton, chief engineer and official photographer.’ Records indicate that the sledge was gifted to us by a Mrs Pitt in 1925.
A relic of a bygone era perhaps, but also an icon of endurance and selfsufficiency. Sadly languishing in the Old Chapel and looking a little worse for wear, I felt it deserved greater prominence. The same could be said for much of the School’s archival collection, which is why we appointed our own Archivist some years ago. She has been doing sterling work collating and restoring our wealth of archival material. Enough to warrant the next step in our mission to preserve and provide access to Bromsgrove’s history, the opening of a dedicated onsite Heritage Centre.
Housed in the lower floor of Big School and constructed to the high standards of modern museums, it is due to be officially opened next year. After which, we will be delighted to welcome anyone interested in the School’s history, most especially Old Bromsgrovians
themselves, to visit the Centre and peruse our collections.
As you do, you will also be able to view, in pride of place in the heart of the complex, Scott’s sledge, restored to its former glory.
PETER CLAGUE HEADMASTER
The new Heritage Centre, located on the ground floor of Big School, will officially open in 2020
BrOMsgrOvE’s AluMnI MAgAzInE IssuE 6 2019/20
Picture This…
I am delighted to bring to life Issue 6 of Bromsgrovians Connected. It is another bumper issue filled with OB news, School stories and events around the world.
With over fifty nationalities at the School currently, and Old Bromsgrovians living in countries from Austria to Zimbabwe, our internationally diverse community is important to us. As you flick through the pages of this magazine, you will not only find the School in good heart but you will see that our Bromsgrovians are entrepreneurial, creative, nurturing, charitable and accomplished.
Enjoy reading your alumni magazine.
Megan Griffiths Editor
A lOOk BAck At thE AcADEMIc yEAr 2018/19.
Our Prep and Pre-Prep Survivors, as well as the rest of the Class of 2019, were welcomed into the Old Bromsgrovian community at the end of the Summer Term, marking the end of their school days at Bromsgrove.
The School was chosen to host the ‘Bromsgrove round’ of the World Scholar’s Cup, where two of our School teams went through to the Tournament of Champions, held at Yale in the USA.
Parents, pupils and Old Bromsgrovians joined together to celebrate the School’s annual Commemoration Day. We welcomed OBs from a range of years to the Old Bromsgrovian marquee, as well as a number of those celebrating anniversaries.
Popular with staff and students alike, Grease was the major School production of the year.
A Level, IB, BTEC and GCSE pupils celebrated their exam results in August 2019. 45% of all GCSEs achieved the top grades of 8/9. Three pupils gaining perfect scores of grade 9 in every subject, a feat achieved by only 732 in the whole country. A further School record fell at A level, where 57% of all grades were A*/A. Overall, 77% of grades were A*/B. IB pupils maintained the School’s consistently high ranking with an excellent average score of 37.5 points. And, of the 75 BTEC entries this year, students achieved 21 Distinction* and 42 Distinctions.
Bromsgrove School continued its partnership with the Bromsgrove International Musicians’ Competition (BIMC) and its sister Platform for school-age children, with the senior section being won by our very own Vincent Li.
Picture This…
Our new Beekeeping Club, part of Bromsgrove Service, has proved a hit with pupils - from planting bee-friendly flowers to hopefully procuding their own honey one day.
The opportunities that Bromsgrove pupils have had this year included trips to Canada & the USA (Rugby), Singapore & Australia (Netball), France (Languages), Germany (Languages), Spain (Languages) and Zambia (World Challenge).
“service to the school and to the local community is an important part of life at Bromsgrove.”
A momentous year for sporting accolades; the 1st netball team were crowned double National Champions. In addition, the U18 rugby team came home with the coveted Rosslyn Parks Sevens Vase.
Over the course of 2018/19, 1907 sports fixtures were played across the Prep and Senior Schools.
The Chicken, the School’s Greenpower kit car, emerged as World Kitcar Champions.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1, we commissioned our DT department to create a ‘field of poppies’, each one individualy enscribed with the name of a fallen OB. These were then installed outside the Memorial Chapel in time for Remembrance Week, and then kept in situ for the rest of the term.
The Music department enjoyed great success at regional and national competitions - Big Band picked up Gold at the National Concert Band Festival. The School’s combined Prep and Senior Choir competed in at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts in the School Choir U19 category, winning the E. L. Ward Challenge Cup.
Bromsgrove is one of fifteen schools selected by the UK Boarding Schools Guide, as a ‘Leader in Sport’.
Service to the School and to the local community is an important part of life at Bromsgrove and our Bromsgrove Service activity has had another successful year with nearly 300 Bromsgrovians taking part in over forty different activities each week.
This year saw the introduction of our new Nursery activity where Senior School pupils helped support staff at a local nursery – and even taught the pupils some Mandarin and Bulgarian.
Pupils continue to partake in DofE throughout the School, with 40 Gold, 54 Silver and 86 Bronze awards achieved during 2018/19.
Bromsgrove CCF continues to be one of the largest contingents in the country, with Cadets taking part in activities such a threeday survival course with the UK Survival School, and the annual camp at Catterick.
About you
FInD Out WhAt OlD BrOMsgrOvIAns FrOM yOur ErA ArE DOIng nOW
Elmshurst Kritapol (Todd) Sundaravej (19741979) has shared this delightful photograph with us from the 1980s.
His grandparents came to visit his two brothers, Dilokpol and Kampol Sundaravej whilst they were studying at Bromsgrove.
Mike Perry (Academic Staff 1996-2001) met up with one of his former pupils, Arthur Darvill (Elmshurst 1993-2000) at a film screening. Arthur wrote the music to Che Walker’s Been So Long when it was produced at the Young Vic Theatre ten years ago. The film has now been completed, with Arthur taking part in a special showing of the film at the MAC in Birmingham. Arthur chatted to the audience before performing songs from the film. Mike says that the MAC was a venue that Arthur performed in for many years as a young Bromsgrove pupil, as well as part of ‘FaceOff’, Bromsgrove School’s former production company led by him and Adrian Jarvis (former Head of English).
Mr Fallows welcomed back Stoyko Mekushin who left the School in 2012 (right). After completing a BSc in Economics and Economic Development at Manchester, Stoyko went on to do a Masters in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship. He spent the summer hiking across the UK and exploring his homeland, Bulgaria, before starting on a graduate scheme with Vodafone.
Congratulations to Henry Walker (20052016) on gaining a Senior contract with Gloucester Rugby. Previously an Academy player, Henry made his first appearance for the club against the Barbarians. He was chosen for England U20s in the Junior World Championship in 2017 and also earned selection for the 2018 tournament.
Elmshurst House has received numerous visits from OBs over the last academic year, particuarly poignant as 2018/19 was Mr and Mrs Fallows’ last year as Houseparents.
Nic Brede, who left us in the Summer of 2018, returned to his old House for a visit. Nic received excellent IB results and is studying in Bocconi University in Milan.
Tony Qin and Marcus Chow returned during the Michaelmas Term. Both boys left the School after achieving fantastic A level results. Tony is studying Economics at UCL and Marcus is studying Medicine at Birmingham. The boys loved catching up with their old friends and enjoying taking a look at some of the new areas around Elmshurst House.
Former Head of House, George James (2013-2017) visited Elmshurst whilst he was back in the UK. George is currently living and working in Australia.
gordon
U17s captain Olly and Head Boy Seb met two Old Bromsgrovians whilst on their rugby tour to Canada over the summer - Hugh Bulmer (19661971) and Emrys Evans (Gordon and Elmshurst 1942-1946). It was fantastic to see our OBs supporting the current School teams during their tour.
gordon
A number of OBs enjoyed a very entertaining and enjoyable evening with fellow Old Bromsgrovian John Illsley (Gordon 1963-1967) who was on tour at No. 8 Pershore. John was interviewed by his road manager for part of the evening and then played with three other musicians.
L-R: Bob Wilson (School 1961-1966), Matthew Horton (Cookes/School 19621967), John Illsley (Gordon 19621967), Roderick Drury (School 19611966).
hazeldene
Congratulations to Iskra Lawrence (2004-2009) who has been honoured with the Forbes 30 Under 30 for Europe 2019.
Iskra recently had a donut named after her at New York’s world famous ‘Dough’ - 10% of all proceeds from sales of the Iskra Doughnut will go to the US national charity the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for who Iskra is a Brand Ambassador.
Photo credit: Rand Williams
Sophie Cooper (2007-2009) has recently been in touch to let us know about her new partnership with the Book People, to provide users of her Read with Phonics website with free children’s books.
Sophie says, “Digital learn to read resources such as ReadwithPhonics.com are amazing tools that really increase the efficiency of how children learn to read, but there is no getting away from the magic that reading a proper book offers, so we are very excited about this new partnership.”
The website and app has grown quickly - Read with Phonics is now in over 4,000 schools worldwide. We wish Sophie well in her new venture.
Year 7 and 8 got a glimpse into life behind the stage curtain, as Sophie Spurgin (2002-2010) came to talk to them about her role as a Textile and Breakdown Artist. Sophie was snapped up by film, theatre and television companies to develop and deconstruct costumes for productions such as Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 2, The Crown and many more.
During the presentation, Sophie discussed how her life as a successful artist began with School subjects in Art, English and Media Studies. She then revealed her amazing journey through university and beyond.
Thank you to Taome Jennings (20052016) for delivering a brilliant presentation on life at the University of Exeter during Lent term. Taome was an enthusiastic ambassador for the university.
The Bristol Suspensions are an award winning mixed a cappella group from the University of Bristol, and are Champions of UK A Cappella; winning The Voice Festival UK in April 2016 and The Ireland International A Cappella Festival in July 2019. The group are renowned for their electric performance, slick choreography and stunning vocals. After placing second in the country at the ICCAs (International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella) for the second year running, Rachel and the group took part in the fringe from 12th-24th August, with their show ACA-RRESTED! You can follow their journey to the fringe @brisuspensions on all social media platforms.
Rachel says that singing is a huge passion of hers and was something she initially developed at Bromsgrove.
Photo Credit: Gloucester Rugby
Rachel Xuereb (2006-2017) performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the second time with The Bristol Suspensions.
Photo: Rachel is pictured front row, third from left
hazeldene
Candy Lockett (2012-2017) enjoyed another successful season at the University of Mount Olive, USA. Not only did she receive her first invitation to the NCAA Division II National Championship this past spring, but she did so while earning some very prestigious academic awards along the way. Candy earned the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team Award from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Along with the CoSIDA award, she was later named a recipient of an Individual USTFCCCA Track and Field AllAcademic Award along with the women’s team receiving the team honour. For these awards, Candy had to have a qualifying GPA (she achieved an overall GPA of 3.91) along with a national qualifying performance, which she earned in late March. At The Adidas Trojan Challenge, she had already produced two season best throws and went in the ring for her final throw of the day when she launched a new season/ personal best, conference record and provisional mark for the NCAA Championships of 55.87m. It was her best mark of the season and one that ranked her in the top 20 nationally all season.
During the indoor campaign, Candy set new personal bests in both throwing events, and was the indoor runner up in the weight throw at conference. In addition, in the outdoor season, she became a second time conference champion in the hammer throw with a meet record throw of 54.30m. Candy helped the women’s team win both the indoor and outdoor team titles at conference and finish 17th at the National Championships.
housman hall
Andrada Tomoni (2013-2015) graduated with a First Class Degree in Biomedical Science from Oxford Brookes University this summer. She says that after a 4 year course, which included a year in industry spent at the UK Biocentre biorepository in Milton Keynes, the time spent at university helped her to develop not only into a capable scientist, but most importantly, into a well-rounded, confident person, building on the strong foundations established at Bromsgrove. During Andrada’s time at university, she made a video for the British Council, and Oxford Brookes chose her as a University Brand Ambassador to give guidance to overseas students wanting to apply to UK universities.
After graduating this June, she joined Oxford Nanopore as a Tech Transfer and Platform QC Scientist, where she is in charge of the pore insertion process for their DNA sequencing devices - they have recently partnered with NASA after managing to get the MinION device to perform accurately on the International Space Station. Their goal is to stabilise the MinION sequencer in time for the Mars 2020 mission, so astronauts can easily analyse any potential extraterrestrial life forms.
Huge Congratulations to Becky Foster (2017-2019) who has won a bursary from exam board OCR to support her at the University of Cambridge. Having left Bromsgrove in the Summer, she commenced her Geography studies at Girton College in September 2019.
lupton
Congratulations to OB & Foundation Trustee, Stewart Towe CBE (19651970) on his Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.
The netball team bumped into OB Gabriel Thornton (2011-2018) whilst on their sports tour in Sydney - and he is still proudly wearing his School kit!
lyttelton
Hugh Lockhart (1996-2011) featured on the back page of our local paper, the Bromsgrove Advertiser. It is great to see Hugh still playing rugby, as he was part of the winning 1st XV whilst at School.
Congratulations to Tom Banton (20102015) who has been named in the England T20 squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Tom captained his country at U19 level and has now bypassed the Lions to move straight into the senior squad.
Luke Court (2003-2018) from Redditch Young Conservatives appeared on BBC Breakfast in June 2019, speaking about the upcoming vote for the next Conservative PM.
Max Butterfield (2009-2018) recently attended the Centennial Commemoration of the Signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Max is at Georgia Tech and made the visit with nineteen other students from the university.
Mary Windsor
We were delighted to receive a signed copy of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell (née Spain, 1980-1985). The book will be placed in the School library where many more Bromsgrovians throughout the years will be able to access it.
Caroline Cowie (née Moore, 19871998) took part in a charity trek, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free standing mountain at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Parkinson’s UK, alongside her husband Andy. We hope to be able to update you on their progress in the next issue.
Nyree Williams (2010-2016) took the one-woman show, How to Make Friends in Hollywood, to the Prague Fringe Festival in May 2019. She hopes to take it elsewhere in the near future so keep an eye out for the details.
We were delighted to welcome back Polly Heung (2005 – 2012) at the start of the new academic year. Polly is a nurse in Hong Kong, having worked in paediatrics, and will transfer to renal nursing after her visit to the UK.
Sasha Rae (2005-2012) has been nominated for the Women’s Who award under the category ‘Rising star’. She recently set up her own company to share the message of ‘true health’. Sasha says, “We live in a world where we look to our therapists to get our lives on track, our PTs to help us lose weight, our nutritionist to tell us what to eat, but actually, it is all connected - each aspect plays a vital role in creating a healthy lifestyle. I have created a sense of unity in the health community. I film local specialists for my online academy called lifetrainme, where people are invited to learn about each aspect of their health on one coherent platform.”
Oakley
We were delighted to welcome Violetta Onishchenko (2002-2007), founder of Hold Hands - not Phones. Violetta spoke to pupils about their relationship with their smart phones/ electronic devices and introduced ways to help curb that addiction.
Mengmeng Yan (2005-2008) returned to Bromsgrove at the start of the Lent Term, accompanied by her parents. Keen to see the changes around School, Mengmeng was delighted to meet up with Mrs Ascough, one of her former teachers. She has just completed her PhD in English Literature at Durham University.
Oakley
Thank you to Emily Douglas Osborn (2004-2009) who has been giving one of our current students some interview practice for Veterinary Medicine. The Futures department is always looking for OBs to give advice or interview support to current pupils – please contact us if you’d like to take part.
Ellie Robinson (2015-2017) has been helping current students with their applications to university and apprenticeships – thank you for to Ellie for her helpful and encouraging advice.
We were pleased to meet up with Lidia Pozhidaeva (2011-2017) whilst she was on campus to speak to current pupils about her course and life as a student at KCL. Lidia is in her second year of the BSc Global Health and Social Medicine course, with an additional pathway in Neuroscience. During her second semester, she worked alongside a professor from the faculty of biomedical engineering to research the mechanism of action of a new antiarrhythmic drug.
Congratulations to Emily Evans (20162018) who has been accepted as Organ Scholar at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge to read Music in the next academic year.
This follows two gap years as Organ Scholar at St David’s Cathedral and now at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where the School’s Chapel Choir will sing Evensong in March 2020.
school
Tony Horton and the Foster-Smith family gathered in Anglesey for a School House reunion in celebration of Robert Foster-Smith’s 80th Birthday Bash earlier this month.
Ian McGrath from School House popped in to see us and we were delighted to learn that he has a number of items for our Archive.
Whilst in Hong Kong, we were able to put Myles Griffiths (1957-1961) in touch with Guy Shirra (Gordon 19601965). Myles and Guy met over lunch at the Vila Villa Chinese restaurant in Sai Kung, where we are sure there was lots of reminiscing about their Bromsgrove days.
Oliver Hemingway (1960-1965), a fourth generation OB, visited the School during the summer holidays with his wife, Rosemary. He enjoyed looking around the grounds and seeing old and new haunts, particularly Routh Hall where he noticed the most changes of all.
John Nicholson (1968-1973) popped by the School earlier this year and enjoyed looking around campus.
If you would like a tour, please let us know by emailing oldbromsgrovians@ bromsgrove-school.co.uk or telephone 01527 579679 ext 357.
Jerome Wallington (1995-2000) is Bromsgrove School’s current doctor, working at Churchfield’s Surgery as a GP. He is father to twins who now attend the School. He looks forward to returning to Commemoration in 2020 for his 20-year leaving anniversary.
Will Parkinson (2004-2014) returned to School to speak to current pupils about studying at Oxford. Will is an Organ Scholar and studies Music at Lincoln College, Oxford.
We are delighted to hear that Zach Jeacock has been selected as a goalkeeper for the England U19 football squad. Well done Zach!
Thomas Muir (2012-2017) performed at the BBC Proms in July, singing Haydn’s Creation with the BBC Youth Choir.
Thomas c ookes
Cathryn Bloomfield (née Winnett, 1997-2007) is working as a palliative medicine registrar in the West Midlands and is delighted to introduce her son, George Robert Bloomfield, born on 26th March 2019. She hopes George will be attending Bromsgrove in a few years!
Olivia Wormald (2011-2016) has been very busy over the last few months - we were delighted to hear about the most recent and upcoming drama productions when she got in touch with us in the Bromsgrovian Office.
Olivia performed her West End showcase at the Soho Theatre, and in a new Actor-Musician production of Dead Dog in a Suitcase in Peckham. And in April/ May, she performed in Our House, the Madness musical at Greenwich Theatre. She has also recently signed with Nic Knight Management.
Musically, she has been playing with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra - and depping on various musicals over London.
Olivia says that Bromsgrove set her up with such a great foundation for her drama school training and still remembers some of the lessons she learnt here.
Walters
Carl Huxley (1972-1977), who runs Selcraft UK, was honoured to undertake a special medal commission for the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda.
About being asked to produce the special medals, Carl said: “We’re flattered to have been asked to design the medals for this historic memorial. It is a great honour to have our work recognised on an international stage that will stand in pride of place to support the memory of those who lost their lives. Selcraft’s pieces recognise the endeavours and achievements of individuals, groups and organisations around the World.”
Damon is now in charge of broadcasting for the
In 2017, he worked for The Conservative Party as part of the Prime Minister’s operation team, prior to this he had worked as head of research at Change Britain and then as a director at PR firm Brunswick.
Walters Houseparent, Mr Bell spotted Old Bromsgrovian Damon Poole (20072012) in this photograph outside No. 10 Downing Street, following Boris Johnson’s appointment as PM.
new Prime Minister.
Photo Credit: Daily Mail
Walters
Ed Philp (2010-2013) has been cycling around Australia over the summer, a trip which is likely to total 18,000kms. Having left Sydney, he made his way up to Cairns, then Darwin and was heading to Broome on Australia’s Western Coast when this news came in.
Videos of his ride can be found on YouTube at http://bit.ly/edphilpcycle
Dan Johnson (2012-2017) returned to see everyone in Walters House earlier in the year. Dan is now working at Aspire Business Partnership, a Bromsgrove based firm which specialises in areas such as employment tax, employment status and employment law.
Professional Cricketer Ben Cox (19992010) and Bromsgrove’s former Director of Cricket, Paul Greetham were guests of honour at a Prep School Assembly held in the Memorial Chapel.
Ben attended Bromsgrove Prep and Senior School, shooting to stardom in 2009 whilst still a Sixth Form student, after being awarded a professional cricket contract.
Ben Cox (1999-2010) later appeared on BBC Midlands Today (September 2019), talking to Sports Presenter, Ian Winter at the Vitality Blast finals day. This was exactly ten years after Ben’s county debut whilst still at Bromsgrove School (and, coincidentally, his first TV interview was also conducted by Mr Winter).
You can watch the original 2009 interview with Ben on our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/bromsgroveschool
Congratulations to Matt Dyson (20052014) who graduated this summer with a First Class Honours in Construction Engineering Management with the Diploma in Industrial Studies from Loughborough University.
Please send in your own graduation stories for the next edition.
Wendron
It was a pleasure to give David Cure (1959-1970) a trip down memory lane during his tour of the School – he enjoyed seeing all of the new and old buildings.
OBs David Cure and David Trickett
Wendron-gordon
We were delighted to welcome David Trickett (1957-1963) who visited the School with his wife Catherine. An interesting fact that David told us on his tour around the School - his father, Edward (Ted) Trickett bought the Chapel Bell when he realised that a tin bucket was being used to call the boys to Chapel!
Edward Tang (2002-2005) returned to Bromsgrove for a tour of the School at the end of January 2019. As it was Chinese New Year, Edward and his wife were travelling around the UK and decided to stop by the School; he hadn’t been back since leaving over ten years ago.
staff news
Mr Fallows bade farewell to Elmshurst House as its Houseparent at the end of the Summer Term. Both are still at the School, with Dave continuing his role as Director of Cricket and Louise remaining as Housemother.
Former English teacher James Brogden (2000-2017) has a new book out (his third novel for Titan Books) called The Plague Stones. It is a horror novel about the Black Death, ancient rituals and vengeful undead medieval peasants with scythes. For more information, you can visit the Good Reads website at www.goodreads.com/book/ show/41436934-the-plague-stones
Mrs Whitfield, who works in our Prep Drama department, and is also a current parent of the School has ‘adopted’ the grave of OB Robert Cotton, which is located at St John’s in Bromsgrove. She visits his grave regularly, and her family lay poppies after the Remembrance Service at School each year.
Over the years she has tried to clean Robert’s grave, but it reached a point last year when it needed professional attention. Another parent, Mr Pullen, who is a stonemason, kindly agreed to clean the grave and he has certainly done Robert, and the School, proud.
Robert Cotton is featured in Mr Bowen’s book, Bromsgrove School At War 19141919, and we are very grateful to Mrs Whitfield for keeping Robert’s memory alive.
top schools
Thank you to Grace Lee, Emily Yuen and Sarah Chan, all Old Bromsgrovians from Mary Windsor, and Rachel Tsui from Housman Hall, for helping Miss Scannell and the Headmaster at the Academic Asia Top Schools event in Hong Kong.
remember The Fallen Niall Hegarty (Lyttelton 2010-2015) and Tom Beattie (Walters 2010-2015) sent in these photos from their visit to St George’s Chapel, Ypres. They asked for the School, and the OBs who died in both wars, to be remembered in the prayers during Evensong.
Photo Credit: Ian Winter
llanwrtyd Wells
The School was represented at Llanwrtyd Wells by School Archvist, Nikki Thorpe and Events & Alumni Assistant, Jessica Lomas. Old Bromsgrovian Christopher Price (School 1939-1944), himself a pupil when Bromsgrove was evacuated to Wales, laid the wreath on behalf ot the School and OBs.
Next year, in a separate ceremony to be held over a weekend in September, it is hoped that a School contingent will honour and celebrate Bromsgrove’s Connection to Llanwrtyd Wells during World War Two.
OB lodge
A little known fact about the OB Lodge is that while the School was evacuated to Wales during the Second World War, the Lodge was assisted by the Loyal Wye Lodge based in Builth Wells.
This created a bond which has stretched across time and is still strong today.
L-R in the photo: M Roberts (OB), E Beaumont, R Evans, T Tudge, C Bradley, N K Gibbs (OB), G Jackson, C Price (OB).
On the evening, Christopher Price not only celebrated his Birthday but renewed his acquaintance with Colin Bradley, whom he has known for over sixty years. The OB Lodge presented Colin with some edited highlights from the original Lodge Minutes book, which had been signed by his father, George.
llanwrtyd Wells Weekend - 26th & 27th september 2020
To mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Junior School in Wales, and to honour the town who opened up their doors to our Senior School during WW2, a weekend of celebration and thanksgiving will take place between 26th and 27th September 2020.
Anyone with a connection to the School in Wales and all OBs are welcome to join us.
Further details about this event will be sent to you in the new year, however if you are interested in registering your interest to join us over this weekend, please email oldbromsgrovians@ bromsgrove-school.co.uk, write to us at the School address or telephone 01527 579679 ext 357/366.
Places to Stay
No accommodation is offered by the School but there are a small number of B&Bs in and around Llanwrtyd Wells, which need to be booked for this event on an individual basis. Please visit www.visitwales.com or call them on 0333 006 3001 for more information on accommodation in the local area.
OB netball
It has been a great year for the Old Bromsgrovians Netball Club, both on and off the court.
The club were delighted to achieve promotion to the premier division of the Worcester City Netball League this summer. You may have seen them in the Bromsgrove Standard! This was a welcome challenge, facing a high standard of competition throughout the season. OB Cannons managed to hold their own in the top flight and were victorious in six out of fourteen games, finishing 7th in the league. The club also field a team in the Redditch Netball League, with fixtures taking place at Kingsley, Redditch.
The club has taken part in various charity tournaments over the year. These are thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants, especially as they raise money for such important causes. The OB girls played in the Alison Clake Versatility tournament in August 2019, with each player required to play in all seven positions. Despite a torrential downpour, the team had a brilliant day reaching the final and going on to win.
The OBs are regulars at the Millbrook Tournament, which raises money for the Millbrook cancer treatment unit at Kidderminster Hospital. In addition, there have been a couple of mixed tournaments, including the Amy Redhead netball tournament, which raises money to support young adults with ulcerative colitis. With the help of husbands, boyfriends, brothers and dads, the club were able to reach the semi-final and claim a couple of raffle prizes too.
The OB Netball Club hold training sessions on a weekly basis, and this is a great way for new players to come along and get a feel for the club.
This year, the Old Bromsgrovians have joined forces with Redditch Netball Club for weekly training sessions. This has proven to be of great benefit to both clubs and has allowed us to develop skills and techniques to be implemented into our league fixtures.
In keeping with tradition, the club continues to hold regular social events, such as the end of summer drinks at the Queen’s Head and going to watch the Vitality Netball Superleague at the Arena Birmingham. This year’s AGM was also well attended and took place at Bromsgrove Golf Club, allowing for all members to contribute towards the future of the club.
We would like to say a big thank you to the School, Bromsgrovian Office and the Club for their continued support.
The Old Bromsgrovian Netball Club is always interested in recruiting new players of all levels and experience. If you would like to find out more, please contact Becky Alton on rebeccaalton62@yahoo.com or check them out on Facebook “OB Netball (Bromsgrove)”.
OB tennis
In May, the School hosted its annual OB tennis fixture. The first round was the first School pair against the OB team of N. Grove and J. Bassell. The School pair won 7-5 6-2. The second School team had a harder opening match going down to the father and son team of P. Siviter and P. Siviter 3-6, 0-6.
The second round was a real battle of youth v experience in a fantastic match, which the School narrowly lost to the father and son pair 6-7, 6-3, and 8-10 in the tiebreak. Sadly, the second OB pair had to retire the second rubber. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact the School’s Director of Tennis, Richard Lawton: rlawton@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
OB golf Report from the Hon. Secretary of the Old Bromsgrovians Golf Society:
I start with great sadness in that I have to report that our long serving President, Tony Hilton, passed away aged 87 earlier in the summer. Tony was one of the first few OBs who got together to form an Old Bromsgrovians golf society some fifty-three years ago. I feel the OB Golf Society has somehow lost its soul, as Tony was an enthusiastic player and a great supporter right up to the end. Even when he had hung up his boots, he still came along to join us and I can still picture him now standing around the 18th green with glass in hand waiting for us all to come in before enjoying a usually excellent and convivial dinner.
But things do move on and we are anxious to help OB young golfers to participate in the enjoyment of Old Bromsgrovian camaraderie. There is now a grant to give financial support to OB younger golfers (under 30) to encourage them to join us.
If you are interested in finding out about the young golfer grant, please contact the Hon. Secretary, Anthony Webb for more details.
Our first event of the year was against the School at Blackwell. It was a cracking match, ending in a noble draw 2-2, with the School retaining the Webb Cavill Trophy. Notably, the School team was captained by Charlotte Campbell. Two more excellent female golfers were also in the team and we hope that they will join the Old Bromsgrovians Golf Society when they leave. It would be good to inject some real OB inclusivity which reflects what Bromsgrove has become.
Our OB meeting at Edgbaston was once again played on a rainy day, however the very good dinner at the end of the day restored spirits once more. The Tony Hilton Cup was won by Jim Pugh.
Unfortunately, we were not able to raise a team for the qualifier of the Public Schools’ Grafton Morrish competition. Even though we have a very enthusiastic Grafton Morrish captain in Ian Powell, we found it impossible to produce a team this year for this vicious format of scratch foursomes - if you would like to be considered for this competition next year, please do get in contact.
Having won the main MK Foster Trophy in 2017 at the Public Schools Midland Golf Meeting, Bromsgrove again put in a good show with the team of Bill Jordan, Jim Pugh, Mark Blake, Michael Taylor, Alex McIntosh, Mark MertonJones, Peter Bingham and Alex Kay. Bromsgrove came in a cmmendable fifth from thirteen schools, beating Malvern, Repton, Uppingham, Rugby, Oundle, Rossall, Stowe and Harrow on the way.
At the time of writing, we still have the Edward Harris Welsh Public Schools’ Cup to be played at Royal Porthcawl, and a good OB team is being led by Adrian Powell. And, finally, we will end our year with the usual meeting at Blackwell combining our AGM. This is always a most enjoyable day.
Anyone who plays a little golf is always welcome to join the Society.Hon. Email: anthonywebb41@btinternet.com for a Membership Application Form.
Anthony Webb (Lyttelton 1955-1959) Hon. Secretary for OB Golf
L-R: Alex McIntosh, Mark Blake, Bill Jordan, Peter Bingham, Michael Taylor, Alex Kay
Wedding Bells
Congratulations to the following Old Bromsgrovians who were married this year. Do let us know if you’d like to feature in the next issue.
Hugh Westlake (Lupton 2002-2010) and Georgina Walters (Thomas Cookes 2003-2010) were married at Studley Church in September 2019. They met whilst acting in the Year 8 Play at Bromsgrove Prep – Hugh played an ugly sister and Georgina was Buttons. They were friends throughout School and got engaged last year.
Many OBs were in attendance and Georgina’s bridesmaids were her sisters (also OBs), Alice (maid of honour) and Isabella Walters, and Hugh’s sister, Sarah Westlake.
The Groomsmen were Matthew Cox, William Bolton and Edmund Westlake.
In additon, Georgina’s godfather and OB, David Sneath drove them from the church in his series1.
Hugh and Georgina have recently moved back to the area and look forward to attending more Bromsgrovian events in the future.
Many congratulatons to Hannah Johnston (Oakley 2001-2006) who married James Smith on 29th December 2018 at Adlington Hall, Cheshire.
Ally Taft (Thomas Cookes 1988-1993) married Glynn Harrhy (Elmshurst 19871992) in May 2019.
A large number of Old Bromsgrovians were invited to the ceremony in Sutton St Nicholas, Hereford and then on to a castle in Wales – Craig Y Nos. Guests included her sister and bridesmaid, Georgina Morgan (née Taft), Helen Rowberry (bridesmaid), Nick Taft (MC), Claudia Roberts (née Loades, Best Man /Lady!), Gillian Kerton (née Davies), Chloe Brasier (née Avis), Charlotte Meese (née Hubbard), Meredith Hiemstra (née Strong), Claire Bullivant, Nicole Fieldhouse (née Davies), Lucy Challinor (née Marshall), Ellen Pickard (née Wylie), Richard Meese, James Jeynes, Matthew Eckersley, Chris Brook-Carter, Lawrence Corn, Alexis Showell, Alex Styan (née Taylor), Julia Gordon (née Parker), Mark Slater and Dan Barnsley.
In attendance were OBs including her mum, Fiona (Mary Windsor 1981 - 1983), her sister and bridesmaid, Rachel (Oakley 2004-2009), bridesmaid Sarah Galer (nee Harding, Oakley 20042009), plus Hannah Cummings and Emilie Birks (both Oakley 2001-2006).
OBs in attendance, all of whom were in
and Chris
Duncan Milnes (Gordon 1967-1972) married Grace Walker at Henley-onThames Town Hall on 24th August 2019.
Gordon House with Duncan in the 1970s, included Andrew Parffrey, Guy Chenevix-Trench, Simon Amos
Mason.
#OBsinBangkok
Old Bromsgrovian Gavin Jones (Millington 1957-1963) recently reconnected with two of his former school friends, Chris Sarasin (Elmshurst 1958-1963) and Yokta Asavaraksh (Elmshurst 1957-1962) in Bangkok.
Gavin says that they had a great evening together and are determined to meet up again in a couple of years.
If you meet up with a group of OBs reguarly, let us know so we can feature you in the next ‘#OBsin...’ feature.
Anniversary c elebrations
Members of the Class of 1999 returned to Bromsgrove on Commemoration Day to celebrate their 20th anniversary since leaving School, with some travelling from overseas to revisit their favourite haunts and reconnect with old classmates.
Leanne Nicholls and Victoria Stokes
Leanne Nicholls and Lucy Oldershaw Tom Phillips, Ed Bissenden, Tom Robinson and James Williams Victoria, Leanne & Lucy enjoying the OB marquee
On 5th June 2019, members of the UK’s 16 Air Assault Brigade and France’s 11 Brigade Parachutist parachuted onto Drop Zone K, an original drop zone used by 8 PARA to secure the French town of Sannerville on D Day, 1944.
Following this military operation was a fleet of twenty civilian-operated, original Dakota aircraft, many of which were in action on the D-Day airborne operation. However, this time the aircraft were used to parachute civilian re-enactors onto the same drop zone. Among the British parachutists was Major Gareth Evans (Lyttelton 1997-2004), of the Second Battalion, The Parachute Regiment: he landed safely in the waisthigh rows of wheat.
Gareth says that the American parachute re-enactment was conducted onto La Fiere Drop Zone on 9th June, two miles West of Saint Mere Eglise, which was also an original drop zone for the 82nd Airborne Division. The skytrain consisted of sixteen military C-130 aircraft from the US, France, The Netherlands, and Germany - an impressive sight! Gareth was also involved in this airborne operation as a Jumpmaster to despatch soldiers out of the aircraft, although the landing for this jump was right into the river running through the drop zone!
“Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battlehardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!” (Gen D. Eisenhower)
My journey since leaving Bromsgrove
I left Bromsgrove School in 2007 - the year that the first iPhone came out, but long before the smartphone became popular. Smartphones are incredible tools but whenever we check them to see if there is something new, it is not even about the content, it is just about seeing a new thing – we get addicted to that feeling.
I launched Hold Hands – not phones on 18th March 2019 to create a movement that not only raises awareness about healthy smartphone usage, but to also highlight that my journey did not start like this.
After leaving Bromsgrove, I moved to London to study textiles design at Central Saint Martins and after graduation I worked in the fashion industry. A year later, I made a decision to take on a profession I never thought I could conquer. I applied to City University to study law. Seven years later, here I am, a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.
During the week, I work in a leading London law firm, Penningtons Manches Cooper, helping families through the difficult experience of divorce. The rest of the time I make art and fashion wear (available on Instagram @crafty.oni) and host ‘Hold Hands - not phones’ events.
Nomophobia is a term used for smartphone addiction. It stands for ‘no mobile phone phobia’ and is explained as an irrational fear of being without a smartphone.
Smartphones have not been around long enough for us to know the longterm consequences of excessive use, however, smartphones are different from any other technology that has ever existed – they are actually designed to be addictive. They talk back to us, they disturb us when we are working or studying, they demand our attention and reward us when we give it to them. Excessive usage of smartphones is causing things like sleep deprivation, social anxiety, depression, impulsive behaviour, loneliness, eye strain and brain imbalance.
What Hold Hands – not phones means to me
I created Hold Hands – not phones to connect people free from mobile phones, to learn about the negative impact of smartphone addiction and find practical ways to reduce screen time. The symbol of Holds Hands – not phones are macramé Holdhands bracelets. They represent people tying knots of connection, friendship and love. They are a symbol of a simple human craft, handmade and gifted face-to-face, with no filters.
Having gone through a personal struggle of being addicted to my smartphone (I still am) and seeing the impact of smartphone addiction on my friends, family and colleagues, my initiative aims to create a world where we get to make an intentional choice of when we pick up our smartphone and what we use it for.
Hold Hands – not phones is a vehicle for you to make a difference to your community and to connect with yourself, your family and friends.
The movement starts with you, whether you are addicted to your smartphone or know someone who is, set an example by putting the phone away (not just the screen down on the table), away from sight.
What’s next?
Let’s have a Hold Hands – not phones day every year on 18 March, a Hold Hands March Day, when every school, company, restaurant, family and friends encourage phone free spaces.
Let’s have Holds Hands – not phones events in schools, like the one hosted in Bromsgrove in September 2019.
Let’s have a new subject implemented into the school curriculum that will teach children about the healthy smartphone usage.
There is much to do! Let’s Hold Hands –not phones.
For more information, please email: weareholdhands@gmail.com
Watch the teaser trailer at bit.ly/holdhandsnotphones Visit www.weareholdhands.com (coming soon)
Hold Hands - not Phones founded by violetta Onishchenko
Old Bromsgrovian breaks World record rowing across the Atlantic Ocean
In December 2018, Lauren Woodwiss (Thomas Cookes 1996-2007) set off with a friend in a bid to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Here, she tells us her story about taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.
On December 12th, my friend and I (Team ‘Whale of a Time’) set off across the Atlantic Ocean.
The feelings we had, rowing away from the safety of La Gomera, Canary Islands are, even now, hard to explain. A strange mix of excitement, nerves and fear, as we rowed off in to the unknown.
Although I’d completed a number of different land-based challenges prior to the Atlantic, I had never done anything on this scale before, and it’s fair to say that the eighteen months leading up to the race were some of the most challenging of my life. After a year and a half of intense training, planning, equipment preparation and corporate fundraising, it was almost a relief to finally set off in to the big blue.
The truth is that no amount of preparation can prepare you for life on board an ocean rowing boat. The isolation, the boredom, the sickness, and the intense physical and mental tiredness are all unimaginably difficult. And yet, the experience will also be forever remembered as one of the most incredible experiences of my life and I will always be the first to encourage anyone to say ‘yes’ to an adventure or challenge, whenever an opportunity arises. Spending that amount of time at sea, with one of my best friends, was a truly humbling experience and really served to remind us both of how important it is to make the most of the one short life we all have.
We were extremely lucky to experience some incredible sights on our crossing, particularly when it came to the wildlife. There were several occasions where we were visited by whales, pods of dolphins, curious sharks and an abundance of fish, most memorably a blue marlin measuring 3-metres in length. At the other end of the spectrum, the power of mother nature also proved to be extremely daunting; rowing through lightning storms in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and having 40ft waves crash down on us definitely made us question our sanity at times.
Weather conditions have such a huge effect when it comes to ocean rowing and this year was an exceptionally ‘slow’ year for the entire fleet. We spent days on end feeling as if we were rowing across a number of different lakes and had never imagined that the Atlantic Ocean could be so flat. This also meant that the crossing was hugely physically demanding and we spent upwards of sixteen hours a day on the oars, alternating our shift patterns in a bid to keep the boat moving at all times.
In the early hours of 31st January 2019, and after 48 hours of no sleep, we finally caught site of land. We rowed in to English Harbour, Antigua in a time of 50 days, 5 hours and 53 minutes, meaning that we also broke the World Record for the fastest female pairs team to ever row across the Atlantic Ocean. Being welcomed on to dry land by our friends and family, alongside a huge crowd of supportive locals and holiday makers was a truly overwhelming experience and something that we will never forget. It’s safe to say, stepping on to dry land never felt so good!
Following my Atlantic experience, I’ve been privileged to do a number of talks at companies and schools, emphasising the importance of teamwork, determination and stepping outside your comfort zone. Inspired by our own adventure, I’ve also recently launched ‘Frontier Sapiens’, a platform showcasing the best of human endeavour and adventure, through film and live events.
If you’d like to know more about our Atlantic challenge or subsequent talks, please feel free to contact me at laurenwoodwiss@gmail.com
Credit: Ted Martin
1990-1999 leavers’ reunion
Old Bromsgrovians and former staff attended the 1990-1999 Leavers’ Reunion on Saturday, 7th September. After a moving Chapel Service, OBs took a walk down memory lane during their tour of the School.
Over lunch in the hospitality suite, stories were regaled and photographs taken from table to table. A number of Old Bromsgrovians also recorded their memories of School with the Archivist, which will form part of a digital exhibition in the new Heritage Centre.
OB Dinner
Over eighty Old Bromsgrovians joined the Headmaster for a dinner at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair, London on Friday 18th January 2019.
Thank you to Old Bromsgrovian Charles Byrne (Lyttelton 1979-1985) for an entertaining and enlightening speech about his time at Bromsgrove, and in his current role as Director-General of the Royal British Legion.
Joyce Egremont, Mark Shaw-Hamilton, Ann Bourne, Jeremy Bourne, Al McClure
Sarah Ascough, Gail Hayward, Sue Dixson
Gunny Patel and Ian Young
Mark Shaw-Hamilton and Andrew Maund
Catherine Maund, Tony Finn and Elizbeth Pittaway
Charles Byrne (Guest Speaker) and Peter Clague (Headmaster)
Our news to you
nEWs AnD InFOrMAtIOn FrOM thE BrOMsgrOvIAn OFFIcE.
Memorial tablet
There has been a new name added to the WW1 Tablet in the Memorial Chapel. J.R. Wilson, who was one of four Wilson brothers who attended the School. He died in 1932 after taking his own life following depression since his First World War experiences. J.R. Wilson was wounded at Thiepval and contracted malaria during the war.
The War Memorial Tablets were originally installed a year before J.R. Wilson’s death, but in 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1, the School added his namestrangely, there was just one space left.
Futures
The Futures department was delighted to welcome back Aled Luckman (Lupton 2002-2018) for a number of legal writing workshops. Aled is in his first year of a Law degree at Birmingham. In addition, Justine Lynch (Thomas Cookes 20052007) returned to speak to our Law Society on IP.
Sarah Chapman (Oakley 2008-2017) and Callum Ross (Walters 2005-2017) gave their time generously to talk about their journey to Medicine. Both are second year medics - Sarah is at Birmingham and Callum is at Sheffield.
Thank you to Dr Will Bolton and Myles Griffiths for their presentations to Sixth Form pupils, before undertaking some mock interviews. Dr Bolton spoke about his medical research, and Myles Griffiths outlined his fifty years’ experience of practising as a solicitor.
Thank you to the many other OBs and parents who gave up their evening to help current pupils with mock university entrance and careers interviews.
class of 2019
A warm welcome to our most recent leavers, the Class of 2019, who we look forward to welcoming to OB events in the near future.
Before they left Bromsgrove at the end of the Summer Term, the Headmaster handed out an OB tie or label pin to each U6 leaver in a special ceremony during their final Routh Assembly.
As a follow up to Bromsgrove School at War 1914-1919, Philip Bowen has taken on the momentous task of charting the School through World War Two. Here’s what he has to say about the experience of writing his second ‘History of the School’ book.
Ninety-six OBs died in the Great War; 103 in the Second. It has been a salutary, sad, experience to have written histories of our School in both Wars. What would all those brave, talented, young men have become? What families would they have raised? But it has often been life-affirming too, of noble sacrifice and great heroism.
In the Second World War, Bromsgrovians died globallyretreating to Dunkirk; in North African deserts; going down with their ships; on D-Day; in the advance on Germany and in harrowing circumstances in the Far East. Many joined the RAF and died in the air in Hurricanes, Lancasters, Spitfires and Wellingtons. Thirty became Prisoners of War.
The School’s Welsh Exile was an extraordinary experience – we occupied the smallest town in Great Britain. Pupils rode bicycles, joined the Home Guard and protected a famous railway tunnel, farmed, fished and wore sou’westers because of the rain. It was a time of liberation. There was the speed with which Headmaster David Walters masterminded the exodus and his dogged persistence which brought us back home just as the School was about to close. It also witnessed the foundation of our Prep School.
The book tells the story (and often illustrates) the sacrifice of the lives of many OBs. Sgt. Leakey V.C. was never seen again after taking on several Italian tanks on foot in Ethiopia; Lt. Whitley died after tending to a German soldier on D-Day; Lt. Prior was killed when the coastal mine he was defusing blew up three days before Christmas 1945. Such heroism and self-sacrifice is the theme of the book.
Space is also devoted to ‘Survivors’ – Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry was our most decorated OB and the story of his capture in France, his escape and 700 mile trek to Spain is the stuff of legend. He later pioneered the daylight precision attacks by the wooden high speed Mosquitos.
Lionel Whitby founded the Army Transfusion Service and saved 100,000 lives. An OB cleric ministered to 1500 POWs and then helped save Covent Garden and was Chaplain to the Queen’s Household.
The book is dedicated to the Fallen, to David Walters and to the people of Llanwrtyd Wells who welcomed our children in to their midst. It closes with aged Mr. Routh in 1960 who looked back on two wars and delivered the most moving address in our history.
Philip Bowen
The book is now available to purchase from the School Shop, priced at £20 (paperback version only) or £40 for the paperback in a special presentation box. P&P will be charged extra or you can collect it from the School.
Payment can be taken over the phone via the School Shop: 01527 579679 ext 220
Following the Headmaster’s exciting announcement in the Michaelmas term of an Archive and Heritage Centre in the newly refurbished Big School, much of this year’s work in the archive has focussed on preparation for this development. Over the year, I have met regularly with the architect to discuss the best environment for storage and display of archive materials that will preserve the collections for the long term and make them as accessible as possible to the wider School community. With the opening of the new Archive and Heritage Centre set for early Spring 2020, our dreams of a bespoke space to preserve, store, research, display and engage with School Archives are near to realisation!
One of the most exciting conservation projects ahead of the move of archives to the Heritage Centre is work on Scott’s Antarctic Sledge. We have been lucky enough to have the conservation expertise of Pieta Greaves, from Drakon Heritage, who has previously worked on the Staffordshire Hoard at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Pieta spent two weeks with us working on the sledge in Old Chapel to clean it and consolidate pest damage, breaks and loose supports and treat red rot to prevent further deterioration. I’m sure you’ll agree that it is now gleaming! We are looking forward to seeing it in its bespoke display cabinet, the centre piece of the new Heritage Centre.
The conservation work on the sledge, and an opportunity to look more closely at it, has led to further research as to how we came to have the item and which of Scott’s expeditions it was from. Our current thinking is that it is from Scott’s Terra Nova expedition which involved the motorised sledges, trialled by OB
Reginald Skelton in the Alps with Scott in 1908. Our sledge, distinct at nearly 12.5 feet long, looks to be one of the sledges hauled by the motorised sledges on the first part of the Terra Nova expedition, before the engines over heated. The loaded sledges then had to be manhauled. We know that the donor of the sledge to our School was Mrs Pitt and it was donated in 1925, this information is noted in The Bromsgrovian of that year. We presume it was donated because of our OB Skelton’s role as Chief Engineer on Scott’s first Antarctic expedition, The Discovery Expedition 1901-04. However, we are keen to find out more about this highly prized item in our Archive, so do please get in touch if you have further information or remember the sledge from your school days at Bromsgrove.
Bromsgrove Service Archive Club has had a great year with ten students providing high quality support to the archivist, de-framing photographs, repackaging archive material and listing items on the archive catalogue. The repackaging and catalogue listing has been invaluable as we prepare for the move of archives from Old Chapel to the new Heritage Centre.
In February, the archive group interviewed OB Mervyn Bramley who had previously donated his archives to us. The students were trained to use the video recorder by Megan Griffiths and in oral history interviewing techniques. They planned interview questions and spent about an hour interviewing Mr Bramley hearing about his time at Bromsgrove School in the 1950s. Both students and Mr Bramley really enjoyed the experience and Mr Bramley’s interview is now in the oral history archive we have of former staff and students.
Oral history interviews continue to be an important part of capturing life in School in different eras and this year, we have interviewed nine Old Bromsgrovians at alumni events, giving us new insights into life at School in the past.
As we move towards commemorations of WW2, we are particularly grateful for the memories, donations and help with research on this important part of the School’s history.
Bromsgrove Prep’s Eisteddfod from March to June this year, in preparation for their upcoming 80th Birthday in September 2020, gave us an opportunity to display our rich collection of archives relating to the evacuation of the Senior School to Llanwrtyd Wells in September 1939 and the establishment of the Preparatory School the following year, with just 33 boys on roll. These archives and the stories behind them and OBs who served during WW2 will be further brought to life by Philip Bowen’s forthcoming book, Bromsgrove School at War and in Wales 1939-1945 Raising the profile of the archive has continued with archive exhibitions around campus, workshops for students from Years 3-9, archive handling displays at alumni events and Commem and our ongoing social media presence bringing back to life stories from the past. Students have researched and curated exhibitions in the Headmaster’s Dining Room on, New Acquisitions to the Archive, Bromsgrovians during WW1 and most recently The Housman Verse Prize.
Our digitisation programme continues, and as well as The Bromsgrovian (including Junior Bromsgrovian), we have digitised News Reviews from 2008 and the recent student magazine, Two Zero One. These are available to view online through the Bromsgrovians Connected site, using your OB login. We are now working with a conservator and a specialist digitisation company to preserve and digitise our oldest and most fragile material including The School Book of 1693, School Registers up to 1905 and early teaching texts such as The Compleat Tutor from 1770. These older texts will be available to view on the site in the Spring, along with a set of WW1 material relating to Bromsgrove School which has also been digitised, following the 100 year commemorations in 2018.
The presence of School Archives at many events has led to an increased number of donations from OBs and their families and we are extremely grateful for these items. The many and varied experiences of students and staff from Bromsgrove School mean that the collections we receive always contain unique items and give an individual account of School life that adds, not only information, but depth and interest to the archive. Please do get in touch with us if you have photographs and memorabilia from your time in School that you think we would be interested in.
Nikki Thorpe School Archivist Tel: 01527 579679 ext 365 nthorpe@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
In September 2019, Harry Lloyd Jones (School 2011-2016) and William Lockhart (Lyttelton 2011-2016) ran a total of 94 miles in four days across the Pennines and Yorkshire Dales to raise money and awareness for C.A.L.M –Campaign Against Living Miserably.
C.A.L.M are dedicated to helping those with mental health difficulties and preventing suicide, the biggest killer in men in the UK under 40.
The route contained 5000m of altitude gained over hills and mountains on dirt or stone tracks all the way. The boys undertook this challenge of 3 ½ mountain marathons in four days with no training or prior experience in fell or ultra-running.
Day one involved an 18.5-mile tab from Edale to Torside Reservoir, with torrential rain and deep boggy paths, it was a sign of what was to come over the days that followed.
Hugh Lockhart (Lyttelton 2006-2011) was able to leave work and run alongside for the first day, and the pair were glad to have some company. Unfortunately, a knee injury from a previous leg break was hampering Harry’s progress, and 13 miles into the second day of running, he was forced to stop, meeting Will at the finish line of Hebden Bridge hostel after a 29.5-mile run. A lost toenail on this day would eventually prove fatal to the end of the expedition!
Then & now...
The third day saw yet more inclement weather, taking Will from Hebden Bridge to Gargrave, another 27-mile run over thick bogs and cow manure. By the fourth day, the loss of a toenail that at first had seemed inconsequential had now developed into a growing infection. He ran another 21.2 miles to reach Horton-in-Ribblesdale, at which point the expedition had to be stopped and they returned home, battered, bruised and in need of antibiotics – but ultimately hugely grateful for the response of their friends and family who had donated so generously to the cause.
Over the four-day expedition, they raised £1683.49 for C.A.L.M which will help towards funding night-time services for those experiencing mental health difficulties.
If you wish to contact them about their trip, please email wlockhart1998@gmail.com
Antonio Magro (School 2001-2003), whose current credits include HANNA on Amazon Prime, Call the Midwife (BBC) and CURSED (Netflix), looks back on his time at Bromsgrove...
Which route did you take after leaving Bromsgrove?
I really wanted a gap year, but I figured I’d have plenty of “time off” as an actor, so I went straight into drama school.
What do you love about your job?
The obvious thing I love about my job is that it is what I love to do. For it to be my occupation is a real privilege. The reason that has become more significant after a decade in the industry is the people. The relationships forged through the experiences I have shared with people (good and bad) are worth every difficult moment. I love bringing something to life and in turn having an effect on the people watching… It is a very rewarding feeling.
“My advice to current students is simple; use the School. It is an in incredible place. ”
Do you have any advice or tips for current pupils?
My advice to the current students at Bromsgrove is simple; use the School. It is an in incredible place. I speak particularly to the people who may be considering a future in performing. You have recently been blessed with an incredible space. Use it. Try every idea. Get experience.
For the non-performers, the sentiment is the same. Use the School, get advice, use the facilities, and take every opportunity that comes your way. This is what I wish someone had told me. I wish I had spent more time asking questions, learning more from and about people, and I wish I’d had a theatre to spend my time in!
Obituaries
OlD BrOMsgrOvIAns WhO PAssED AWAy In 2018/19.
Patrick F. n. Baron (school 1943-1948)
d. 3rd May 2019
Patrick died on Friday, 3rd May 2019, in Norwich aged 87 years. Brother of John (School House 1944-1949 ).
He leaves his wife Christina, three daughters and two step daughters, also two grandsons.
christopher Messiter hatton (lupton 1968-1972) d. 26th August 2018
Dr John r ace (school 1949-1952)
d. 8th October 2018
harry r aymond Orme (gordon 1947-1952)
Deceased date not provided
Harry was in Gordon House from 1947 to 1952. He did his National Service in the Royal Marines and after a career in industry, he settled in Solihull where he was able to indulge in his love of golf. His funeral service was taken by the Vicar of Preston Pagot on Wednesday, 28th March 2019 and refreshments after the service were provided at Olton Golf Club where the members turned out in force.
His wife Shelagh died some years ago, and he is survived by his son, Jonathon, his daughter Sally and his sister Mary, together with their respective families.
- Julian Remfry (Gordon 1947-1951)
On leaving Bromsgrove School, Christopher did two years at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester with the aim of becoming a Chartered Surveyor like our father. After two years, he left college and spent a year doing varied jobs with Manpower Ltd before gaining a permanent job with Tarmac as a buyer in their Overseas Spares and Shipping department. His work with Tarmac enabled him, in 1980, a month before his 26th birthday, to set off to Peru to work as a Senior Sector Storekeeper on a tunnelling and irrigation project.
Christopher stayed in the construction industry and over the next five or six years, he worked in Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Algeria and Kuwait. In this period, he got engaged twice but never married.
In October 1987, he got a position as a buyer for TML Translink (the Channel Tunnel) and moved from Wolverhampton to Folkstone. When the tunnel was completed, he ventured into self-employment doing resin repairs of windscreens.
In 1997, he entered the retail sector as manager of a cookware shop in Folkestone. He was a keen cook and so was able to help customers, particularly when selecting lines which would sell. Unfortunately the market conditions forced his employer to close the shop, like so many independent shops of the time.
Christopher was actively seeking work and volunteered at the Cat Basket, a charity shop in his local area. A coronary thrombosis took him on a walk back from his favourite pub, The Ship Inn, Sandgate, in the very early hours of Sunday, 26th August 2018.
- Jane
Hatton (sister of Christopher)
John Philip Adrian Race was born on 11th July, 1934 in Burnley, Lancashire to Winifred and Charles Race and was an only child. His father worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and the family moved around the country a lot when he was growing up. Mr Race eventually gained a placed at Oxford University and attended between 1952 and 1956, where he studied Classics at Merton College. It was there he met his future wife, Eva Carabine, who also read Classics at St Hugh’s College and the pair married in 1956. The couple went on to have three children –Julia, Sophie and Tom.
From Oxford, Mr Race went on to private sector jobs in aviation and computer systems, during a time of innovation in what was an emerging sector. In the 1970s he moved into teaching at Brunel University, where he passed on his love for computer science. He remained in academia, including teaching at the Open University, until his retirement in the 1990s.
Mr Race, along with his wife and three children, moved to Abingdon in 1975. Though originally an Oxford classicist, his love of the ancient was combined with an interest in present and future civilisations. This led him to co-found, with his wife, the Abingdon European Society shortly after their arrival, and which continued for many years, with the group still holding talks as late as 2013.
Mr Race passed away on 8th October after having completed his daily run around the Abbey Meadows. He was buried in Abingdon cemetery. A commemoration service was held for family and friends in the Abbey Buildings, with the congregation singing one of Mr Race’s favourite songs – Yellow Submarine by The Beatles.
- Sent in by daughter, Julia Race and published
clemency ‘clem’ schilizzi (c ookes 1957-1982) d. 14th november 2018
At the outbreak of WW2, 8-year-old Clemency was sent to boarding school in Malvern to escape the potential bombing of the family home in Virginia Water, Surrey. Despite her fears and wartime deprivations, her memories of school were happy ones. From school, she went to Eastbourne Domestic Science College and, upon graduating, took a temporary job at Great Ballard Prep school where she met the junior partner, Stephen Schilizzi. They became engaged but the marriage was postponed as Clem had already agreed to be nanny to family friends stationed in Gibraltar, a job which entailed more dancing, tennis and swimming than babysitting! They married in April 1953 and in 1955, the Schilizzi family, which now included Penny, moved to Bromsgrove so that Stephen could start teaching at the School.
The family grew to four with the birth of Peter in 1957. Clem was an extraordinarily good homemaker, a wonderful cook and generous hostess. She continued to play tennis and also took up bridge. One retired staff member recalls “The only time in my life when I bid and made 7 No Trumps doubled was with Clem as a very able partner!”
Clem was always very supportive of and involved with all things associated with Bromsgrove School, both directly as part of Steve’s job or indirectly through his interests. In 1964, the family made a significant move, both for them and for the School, when Steve was appointed Housemaster of the new boys’ Day house, Cookes House. The House opened to pupils in January 1965. Clem applied the same enthusiasm and organisational skill to her role as housemaster’s wife as she did to everything she undertook and was well loved and respected by boys and staff alike. To quote : “Her genuine love of family and friends and interest in people were especially noticeable. She was the complete matriarch. Her involvement at Cookes House, in particular, made them the ideal and envied Houseparents, caring, interested and devoted.” “her milky coffee at morning break was the envy of many” and “the leavers’ suppers they hosted at the end of term were legendary”.
The family, which grew to five with the birth of John in 1968, continued to live at Cookes House until Steve’s retirement in 1982, after which they moved to Hanbury Road. By this time, Clem was working at both Dodderhill and Whitford schools as domestic bursar. When Steve became ill with Alzheimer’s, she became a devoted carer as well as keen member of the local Alzheimer’s support group.
Throughout her retirement, she kept up her close connections with, and took a keen interest in, all people and things connected with Bromsgrove School, attending as many alumni events as her health would allow. After Steve’s death, she met Leslie Irving, with whom she shared the remainder of her life, which ended peacefully at home in November 2018.
Clem is survived by eight grandchildren, Leslie her partner of fourteen years and her children Penny and John, Peter sadly having predeceased Clem in 2017.
- Penny Ribbeck and John Schilizzi
Peter Bishton (School 1961-1964), d. Oct 2019
Peter Malcolm Byng (Lupton 1960-1964)
David Evans (Lyttelton 1948-1953), d. 2018
Jonty Fallows (Wendron 1954-1959), d. Sept 2019
Ian Fraser (Gordon 1953-1958), d. 28/01/2019
Clive Gummow (Gordon 1952-1957), d. 08/08/2019
Don Hamilton (Former Staff 1958-1962), d. Apr 2019
David Harvey (Gordon 1954-1958), d. 29/08/2019
Tony Hilton (Gordon 1945-1950), d. 10/09/2019
John Hines (Wendron 1944-1949), d. 18/11/2018
Richard Illsley (Gordon 1954-1959), d. 03/02/2019
Jeremy Mallet (Lupton 1958-1963), d. 15/04/2019
Brian Pooler (Wendron 1955-1960), d. Dec 2018
John Shakespeare (School 1945-1949), d. 02/01/2019
Richard Jeremy Taylor (Lupton 1950-1955), d. Feb 2019
Sally Taylor (née Adams, Oakley 1975-1984), d. 2019
David Robert Thomas (Gordon 1942-1947), d. 12/01/2018
John Weir (Wendron 1947-1951) d. 16/02/2019
John R. White (Lupton 1958-1963), d. 18/05/2016
We have just been notified of Mr White’s death
Roger Wones (Cookes 1964-1969), d. 02/10/2018
The Foundation
thAnkIng Our DOnOrs, lEgAcy MEMBErs AnD suPPOrtErs
Appreciation lunch
Current donors and members of the Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society returned to Bromsgrove at the start of 2019 for the annual Appreciation Lunch. We are pleased to continue to honour the kind gifts given by our donors and legacy members. Would you like to know more about the Foundation?
Email: foundation@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Post: Bromsgrove School Foundation, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 7DU
sir Thomas c ookes legacy society
The Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society acknowledges and thanks all those who have made a gift in their wills to Bromsgrove. Members are invited to an annual lunch and a new legacy board listing those who have made bequests over the years will be erected around the School.
If anyone is interested in making a gift in their will to Bromsgrove, please contact the Foundation Office: foundation@bromsgrove-school.co.uk or telephone 01527 579679 ext 366.
Roger Hurley, Jane Hurley, Roy Hughes and Jessica Lomas
James Sommerville, Helen Sommerville and Matthew Horton (Chairman of the Foundation)
Gareth Morgan, Una Morgan and Hugh Furber
Jackie Daniels, Kim Daniels and Lesley Brookes (Bursar)
Tiffanie Tseng and Edmond Loh
Ann Bourne and Caroline Godsall
Dick Noake and Roy Hughes
Thank you to everyone who has purchased a limited edition print so far. If you haven’t managed to get your hands on one yet, there is still some time - do not miss out on your opportunity to own one of these stunning prints depicting the historic quarter of Bromsgrove School (painted in 1884).
Beautifully capturing the scene of 135 years ago, this one-off print is from an original painting by the Birmingham artist Walter Reeves - depicting Hazeldene and Cookes House (the then Headmaster’s house), Big School and the old School Chapel (once the drama studio).
With the original painting having recently been donated back to the School after an absence of nearly fifty years, the Foundation has commissioned 500 high-quality prints - and this is your opportunity to own a rare souvenir of your time at Bromsgrove.
Perhaps your nostalgia will be stirred by your memories of time spent at School, Cookes or Hazeldene Houses? Or for those whose love of art, drama and the humanities/literature was kindled in one of the buildings shown?
Or maybe you are one of the School’s eldermen who is able to recall running along the famous tunnel that lies out of sight, underneath the centre of the scene whose origin and reason for construction dates from the time the painting was commissioned.
By claiming one of just 500 available, you will not only have your own special memento of Bromsgrove School, but you will be making a most worthwhile contribution to the Foundation. Since its inception in 2007, the Bromsgrove Foundation’s foremost objective is to provide life-changing bursaries to current and future pupils who are in need and determined to succeed against all odds.
Each limited edition print is numbered and signed by Headmaster, Peter Clague and accompanied by a history of the buildings by former Deputy Headmaster, Philip Bowen. For those who are keen to have the very first print (1/500), there will be an opportunity to bid for it in an online auction later in the year.
By visting our online shop at www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/categories, you can purchase your print at a modest £135 for a mounted but unframed edition, or £185 for a mounted and framed print (plus p&p or free collection from the School).
Donor roll
thAnkIng Our DOnOrs FOr thEIr gEnErOus suPPOrt DurIng 2018/19.
(gIFts rEcEIvED FrOM sEPtEMBEr 2018 - sEPtEMBEr 2019)
Cookes
Kim Daniels (1960-1965)
Matthew Horton (1962-1967, Chairman of the Foundation, President of the School)
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham (1969-1974)
Matthew Taylor (1968-1973)
Elmshurst
Richard Cariss (1956-1959)
Bernd Dittmann (1997-1999)
John Dillon (1980-1989)
High Furber (1952-1957)
Philip Hobson (1948-1952)
James Leek (1957-1962)
Dick Noake (1959-1964, Foundation Trustee)
John Ruck (1950-1953)
Topper Webb (1972-1973)
Gordon
Barry Dumughn (1950-1955)
Clive Gummow (1952-1957)
John Illsley (1963-1967)
Nevil Malin (1948-1953)
Tony Spackman (1944-1949)
John Vine (1945-1955)
Hazeldene
Taome Jennings (2005-2016)
Amy Mason-Towers (2011-2016)
Sophie Spurgin (2002-2010)
Josie Wiklund (2013-2017)
All funds raised from the sale of these prints will be donated to Bromsgrove School Foundation to provide lifechanging bursaries to those who would not otherwise afford to come to the School.
Once your order has been received, we will contact you to confirm the method of delivery (courier or collection from School) and let you know when it is ready. But be quick - once the 500th print has been sold, there will be no more.
Thank you in anticipation of your support for a most worthy cause.
Housman Hall
Haotian Cui (2015-2017)
Robyn Davies (2016-2018)
Rachel Tsui (2015-2017)
Lupton
Will Bolton (2000-2010)
Kim Daniels (1960-1965)
David Dutton (1956-1961)
Jonathan Finn (1978-1983)
Paddy Firminger (1943-1947)
Aled Luckman (2002-2018)
Kelvin Morris (1976-1981)
Christopher Porter (1958-1963)
Philip Powell (1962-1967)
David Reeve (1950-1954)
John Steveni (1975-1980)
David Walters 1981-1986, School
Governor)
Lyttelton
R. Gareth Morgan (1953-1958)
Mary Windsor
Sarah Chan (2011-2015)
Grace Lee (2012-2014)
Emily Yuen (2008-2013)
Oakley
Sarah Chapman (2008-2017)
Emily Douglas Osborn (2004-2009)
Violetta Onishchenko (2002-2007)
Lidia Pozhidaeva (2011-2017)
Ellie Robinson (2015-2017)
School
John Baron (1944-1948)
Andrew Clark (1947-1952)
John Cutler (1956-1961)
David Evans (1955-1960)
Nicholas Evans (1963-1968)
Geoff Godsall (1956-1959)
Myles Griffiths (1957-1961)
Matthew Horton (1962-1967, Chairman of the Foundation, President of the School)
J. Roy Hughes (1945-1950)
William Jay (1961-1966)
Garth Kenderdine-Davies (1941-1947)
Colin Kleiser (1950-1955)
Grayson Leversha (2014-2019)
John Massey (1962-1967)
Jim Page (1945-1949, Academic Staff 1961-1989)
William Parkinson (2004-2014)
Christopher Price (1939-1944)
Peter Simpson (1953-1956)
Chris Tan (1961-1966)
Robert Williams (1963-1968)
Thomas Cookes
Justine Lynch (2005-2007)
Walters
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham (1969-1974)
Callum Ross (2005-2017)
Matthew Taylor (1968-1973, Foundation Trustee)
Wendron / Wendron-Gordon
David Harrison (1947-1950)
Jeff Lomax (1949-1954)
Friends of the School
Old Bromsgrovian Lodge
Philip Bowen
Chris Edwards
Anthony Finn
Michael Hallows
John Rogers
Rachel Scannell
James Sommerville
Simon Starmore
Ann Taylor
Tim Taylor
John Wheatley
Parents
Mr Balin
Mr and Mrs Batham-Read
Mr and Mrs Brockmann
Mr Chan and Mrs Tang
Dr Chan and Ms Yeung
Mr and Mrs Clarkson
Mr M Collie
Mr and Mrs Delaney-Hall
Mr Fun and Mrs Hon
Mr and Mrs Göbl
Mr Gusev and Ms Shabalina
Mr and Mrs Heslop
Mr Holder and Mrs Taylor
Mr R Hurley
Mr Iec and Mrs Chu
Mr M Jones
Mr and Mrs Juls
Dr B King
Mr and Mrs Knopp
Mrs Kubaskova
Mrs Leslie
Ms J Lodge
Mr and Mrs Lord
Mr Lou and Ms Wong
Mr M Nadin
Mr Ngan and Ms Chan
Mrs Nicholls
Mrs Ostriagina
Mr Vago and Ms Gambarini
Mr and Mrs Walters
Mr Wan and Ms Lee
The tenth Annual Foundation lecture (March 2019)
March 2019 marked the tenth anniversary of the Foundation Lecture and we were delighted to welcome Old Bromsgrovian, Dr Sonya Hill as our guest speaker who spoke about her role as an animal behaviour and welfare scientist, with particular experise in exotic wildlife.
With thanks to Old Bromsgrovian and Foundation Trustee Mark Escolme for being host member at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London.
The Eleventh Annual Foundation Lecture will take place in London in March 2020, date and venue to be confirmed.
Philip Bowen (Foundation Trustee), Dr Sonya Hill and Matthew Horton (Chairman of the Foundation)
Events
WhAt’s On At BrOMsgrOvE DurIng 2020 AnD BEyOnD.
March 2020
The Eleventh Annual Foundation Lecture
March 2020 (Date TBC)
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Date and venue to be announced. The Foundation Lecture is open to anyone with a connection to Bromsgrove School. Numbers are strictly limited; Once announced, tickets can be booked through our box office at www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/whats-on or by telephoning 01527 5797679 ext 357/366.
Appreciation Lunch
Tuesday, 17th March 2020
Donors from the current and last academic year and members of the Sir Thomas Cookes Legacy Society are invited to a special lunch with the Headmaster. All eligible Old Bromsgrovians, parents and friends of the School will be sent invitations in the Lent Term.
Mothering Sunday Service
Sunday, 22nd March 2020
Led by Reverend Paul Hedworth, School Chaplain
Venue: Memorial Chapel
Time: 10.30am
All welcome - please email events@bromsgrove-school.co.uk or telephone 01527 579679 ext 357 to book your place.
April 2020
Bromsgrove School Choral Concert
Sunday, 26th April 2020
Venue: Routh Concert Hall
Time: 5.00pm
A large chorus of Bromsgrove School musicians, including pupils, staff and friends of Bromsgrove School take to the stage to sing a large-scale choral work accompanied by an orchestra. This year, featured music is from the Romantic period - Gabriel Faure’s Requim with an opportunity to hear other great French instrumental works during the first half. Tickets are free but must be booked via the online box office.
June 2020
Commemoration Day
Saturday, 27th June 2020
Old Bromsgrovians, families and their guests are warmly invited to the OB Marquee on Lower Charford between 1.00pm and 5.00pm. Invitations will be emailed in the Summer Term and OBs are encouraged to sign up to register their attendance.
september 2020
2000-2009 Leavers’ Reunion
Saturday, 12th September 2020
Venue: Bromsgrove School
Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm
If you left School between 2000 and 2009, this reunion is not to be missed. Invitations for eligible OBs will be sent out at the beginning of the Summer Term.
Weekend in Llanwrtyd Wells
26th and 27th September 2020
Venue: Llanwrtyd Wells
Current Bromsgrovians, members of staff and OBs are invited to the Welsh town where the School was exiled during the Second World War. In a weekend of celebration and thanksgiving for the townspeople, the School will put on a number of events, including a Parade to the War Memorial on Sunday. Details will be sent in due course.
november 2020
Advent Service
Sunday, 27th November 2020
Venue: Memorial Chapel, Bromsgrove School
Time: 5.30pm
This special Advent Service includes a procession of light to fill the Memorial Chapel with candlelit atmosphere, accompanied by music and readings from all three of the Bromsgrove Schools. Limited places available.
On-going
Bromsgrove Futures & OB Networking
In conjunction with the careers department, we are looking for Old Bromsgrovians who would be willing to undertake mock interviews with current pupils, typically the type of interviews you would have for university entrance or a leavers’ work programme. In addition, the Bromsgrove Futures department are always looking for guest speakers to give a presentation or advice to small groups of current pupils.
To find out more about any of these events, or if you have suggestions of your own, please email us at:
oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school.co.uk
Tel: +44(0) 1527 579679 ext 357/366
Or contact us the good old-fashioned way: Bromsgrove School Worcester Road Bromsgrove | Worcestershire B61 7DU Box Office: bromsgrove-school.co.uk/whats-on
Please Circle: Undergraduate / Postgraduate / Further
Industry:
Location: __________________________________
Where provided, we will use your email (and occasionally postal address), as given by you, to send you news, invitations and information we believe to be of importance to our Alumni. You can opt-in or out of communications yourself by logging on to www.bromsgrovians.com. To view a copy of our Alumni Privacy Notice, please visit www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/PrivacyPolicy
how you can help
There are many ways in which you can help the Alumni Office and School. Please tick the box where relevant.
I can offer careers advice or insight into university courses
I am happy to offer my services as a speaker on my chosen career/university subject
I can suggest work placement or recruitment opportunities
You can pass my contact details and occupation to the School Careers Department
I would like information about leaving a legacy
I have pledged a legacy to the School
Data Protection Statement: All data is held securely and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Your details will not be passed to external organisations or used for any purpose other than promoting the welfare of The School. Please note that core data, which is in the public domain and consists of your name/s, your year of admission, your House, your year of leaving and a photo, if you have uploaded one, is automatically made available to other alumni on the OB database. You can change any of these settings at any time to make your data visible or not visible to other alumni - just visit www.bromsgrovians.com
Please detatch and complete this form in CAPITALS, and then post it to: Bromsgrovian Office, Bromsgrove School, Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 7DU. Or email: oldbromsgrovians@bromsgrove-school. co.uk If you require more than one form, you can download additional copies from www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/bromsgrove-alumni You can also update your own details instantly by logging on to www.bromsgrovians.com
